{"id":54,"date":"2010-02-10T11:41:50","date_gmt":"2010-02-10T16:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/?p=54"},"modified":"2010-02-10T11:44:13","modified_gmt":"2010-02-10T16:44:13","slug":"a-most-memorable-checkride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2010\/02\/a-most-memorable-checkride\/","title":{"rendered":"A Most Memorable Checkride!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are some words of advice from the late Dave Gwinn<\/a><\/p>\n

There are three kinds of Private Pilot Checkrides (just as there are 3 kinds of speeches you make: the one prepared, the one you actually gave, and the one you give in the car on the way home).\u00a0 So when preparing for your Private Pilot Checkride anticipate the three possibilities.\u00a0 There is the perfectly executed by the book that you and your instructor planned; there is the performance that you gave.\u00a0 And then there is the tongue-in-cheek checkride that I told you about.\u00a0 If you give the tongue-in-cheek performance you may be inscribed in the memoirs of pilot examiners and perhaps become a legend in student pilotship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pilot examiners are usually gentlemen or perfect ladies and this makes them vulnerable.\u00a0 And they are generally helpful.\u00a0 Most really want to help you pass your checkride.\u00a0 The tongue-in-cheek performance will leave you beyond help!<\/p>\n

The examiner will expect that you arrive on time and be as skittish as an abandoned fawn.\u00a0 Do not be late!\u00a0 Show up with a flowing white silk scarf and dark mirrored sunglasses (do not remove the sunglasses), and announce that you have arrived by flipping your logbook on his desk.\u00a0 We all know that real pilots wear big watches \u2013 if his does not measure up comment that it is inadequate.<\/p>\n

He\/she will need to inspect your logbook, test results, medical, etc.\u00a0 And you should ask to see theirs.\u00a0 Explain to them that it is illegal for you to carry a passenger and that you want to be sure he\/she is a properly rated flight instructor.\u00a0 You should also check that the examiner has a current flight review and maybe you ask for a random drug test!<\/p>\n

You need to stay in charge of the checkride \u2013 not the examiner.\u00a0 Start on the oral exam.\u00a0 There will likely be a few questions that you do not know the answer.\u00a0 Here are a few standard replies to those:\u00a0 \u201cMy instructor said that wasn\u2019t important\u201d or \u201cMy instructor said you\u2019d ask me some petty question like that\u201d.\u00a0 Here are a few more that may get you out of a bind: \u201cAnyone knows the answer to a simpleton\u2019s question like that\u201d or \u201cLet\u2019s move on to more important material\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Once the oral exam is complete you\u2019ll move on to the flight portion and that is where you will show that you are the master of the aircraft.\u00a0 You will probably preflight the aircraft and the examiner will arrive and hop in once you are seated.\u00a0 When he\/she arrives ask \u201cDid you check the oil?\u201d\u00a0 The examiner may reply that he\/she did not and that it is your responsibility to do so.\u00a0 You reply \u201cOf course it is\u201d.\u00a0 And go on to explain that you did but if I were riding with a student pilot I would have double-checked\u2026Safety first!<\/p>\n

Once the engine is started and you are ready to taxi you instruct the examiner to handle the radios after all you are pilot in command.\u00a0 If\/when the examiner objects tell them that you are disappointed that he\/she cannot do such a minor task.\u00a0 You may use a line like \u201cWhatever! Since the FAA is stressing good cockpit resource management it only seemed proper for me to delegate some of the workload.\u00a0 But I will fly in whatever haphazard environment you find acceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n

And instead of using the standard \u201cRoger\u201d on the radio, try \u201cRoger Dodger\u201d or even \u201cRodney\u201d.\u00a0 Tell the tower you are ready to leap airborne and bore holes in place of just saying you\u2019re ready for takeoff. Once airborne call out \u201cPositive rate of climb, gear up\u201d and watch the examiner look for the gear handle in your Cessna 152.\u00a0 When he\/she does say \u201cGotcha\u201d.<\/p>\n

When asked to do a departure stall, wrinkle your brow and ask why.\u00a0 Explain to him\/her that only an incompetent pilot would ever do such a thing and that it\u2019s opposed to your personal standards but you will comply if it is necessary.\u00a0 Now comes the stall.\u00a0 Pull that stick way back \u2013 get the nose up at about 30 degrees and wait.\u00a0 When it stalls yell \u201cYou got it!\u201d\u00a0 There is no doubt that the examiner will be shocked but his\/her instinct to preserve his life will take over and recover from the stall.\u00a0 When questioned why you did what you did reply \u201cYou only asked for a stall, you said nothing about me recovering.\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t that a beauty!\u201d\u00a0 When you observe the examiner hyperventilating display your aeronautical experience and hand them a paper bag.<\/p>\n

Your sarcasm does not let up.\u00a0 When asked what turns the aircraft answer \u201cMother Nature does, the ailerons are a signal to her\u201d.\u00a0 And the throw open your window and yell \u201cI always try to touch her face\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the old days it was a bit of a tradition for the examiners to try and use their foot to turn the fuel valve off to simulate an emergency.\u00a0 Super-Glue it in the \u201con\u201d position!\u00a0 By this time you will be in the practice area and the examiner probably turned down the volume on the radio.\u00a0 While he\/she is distracted with the fuel valve you turn off the radio.\u00a0 When he\/she finally gets the fuel shut off and the engine sputters grab the microphone and say \u201cMAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! ENGINE FAILURE!\u201d and hand him\/her the paper bag again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Part of your checkride will be done under the hood and my advice here is simple: A peek is worth a thousand scans of the instrument panel.\u00a0 Drill holes in the hood or foggles and shake your head if needed to reposition it.\u00a0 And if you feel a little sick from the unusual attitudes and a barf is coming \u2013 Eyes right is the guidelines.<\/p>\n

This may not be a long checkride but it will be memorable.\u00a0 You\u2019ll be heading back to the airport soon.\u00a0 Once on final call \u201cGear down and welded\u201d and when the examiner looks for the gear handle say \u201cGotcha again!\u201d\u00a0 If you are low on final tell the examiner that you know you are low but thankfully you have your speed to a minimum to compensate. If you\u2019re high say \u201cYes I know I\u2019m high but I am also fast to make up for it\u201d.\u00a0 If you bounce a few times on the landing ask the examiner if this counts for your 3 landings in 90 days to be current to carry passengers.<\/p>\n

Once you receive your pink slip, display it proudly for you have earned it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are some words of advice from the late Dave Gwinn There are three kinds of Private Pilot Checkrides (just as there are 3 kinds of speeches you make: the one prepared, the one you actually gave, and the one you give in the car on the way home).\u00a0 So when preparing for your Private […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p95FsX-S","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1522,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2017\/02\/private-pilot-checkride-feb-1-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":0},"title":"Private Pilot Checkride Feb 1 2017","date":"February 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Private pilot checkride\u00a0 Feb 1 2017. First we began the checkride with the oral portion of the exam. The oral exam included questions on what checks need to be done on the aircraft and how often they need to be checked. Next he asked me about the weather minimums for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1211,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2015\/10\/private-pilot-checkride-flight-portion\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":1},"title":"Private Pilot Checkride – flight portion","date":"October 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"For the flying part of the exam show the examiner how the seats and doors work. Ask how they would like to handle things if we had a real emergency in flight. The examiner should tell you if he\/she were going to take the controls. Suggest that during a real\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1236,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2015\/11\/commercial-pilot-checkride-year-2007\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":2},"title":"Commercial Pilot Checkride Year 2007","date":"November 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"These are notes from a commercial pilot checkride, maybe around 2007. Location and examiner unknown. It was in the local DC metro area. Oral: Explain airspace dimensions and VFR weather minimums. ATC light gun signals. ADIZ\/SFRA intercept procedures and what frequency to use and what code to squawk. What code\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1233,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2015\/11\/cfi-checkride-kesn-year-unknown\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":3},"title":"CFI Checkride KESN Year Unknown","date":"November 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The examiner may do research on your instructor to make sure he\/she is qualified, current, etc. This examiner\u2019s exams are open book and that he wants you to focus on teaching skills at the student pilot level. Be prepared to discuss the FAA\u2019s new web interface ACRA and IACRA. Information\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1231,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2015\/11\/cfi-checkride-summer-2005-kesn\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":4},"title":"CFI Checkride Summer 2005 KESN","date":"November 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Oral: The test in general: Goal is to test the sufficiency of instruction and to see whether you have the communications skills necessary to be a good flight instructor. The examiner may discuss who would be pilot in command in the event of a real emergency during the flight. Oral:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1248,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2015\/12\/commercial-pilot-checkride-at-kgai\/","url_meta":{"origin":54,"position":5},"title":"Commercial Pilot checkride","date":"December 31, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Commercial Pilot checkride Dec 2015 DPE asked me to prepare a flight plan from GAI to ALB. The case scenario was a commercial flight with me as PIC and 3 passengers on a basic VFR day. Oral exam: The entire exam was as commercial decision making oriented. We started on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions\/58"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}